At the heart of every great celebration...
With fourteen years of experience navigating the Chicago and North Shore wedding scenes, we’ve learned that the most seamless events are built on a foundation of honesty, logistical know-how, and a bit of shared laughter. We’re here to be your advocates and your expert guides, bringing a discerning eye to your unique style and a steady hand to the heavy lifting, so you can stay present for every meaningful moment.
...is the freedom to actually enjoy it.
"Exactly what you should look for in a wedding planner."
— OLIVIA, Bride
Our Team
Meet Stephanie
Founder & Lead Planner
Stephanie Cook has always had a passion for bringing people together to celebrate life’s most meaningful moments. After realizing her love for planning, creativity, and working with people, Stephanie founded The Creative Planners in 2012. What began as a passion quickly grew into a thriving business built on thoughtful details, seamless organization, and a genuine love for helping couples enjoy every moment of their celebration.
Stephanie continues to create joyful planning experiences that result in deeply personal weddings and events—each one uniquely reflective of her clients’ vision and story.
When she’s not planning a wedding or special celebration, Stephanie enjoys staying active on the pickleball court, practicing yoga, golfing, reading, and taking long walks with good friends. She also loves traveling to explore new cultures and escapes to the mountains each winter for ski trips out west.
Stephanie feels incredibly fortunate to have a supportive husband and family—and, as you can imagine, she never misses an opportunity to celebrate life’s special moments with the people she loves.
Rachel is a seasoned event planner who brings a sense of theatricality, finesse, and creativity to weddings and social celebrations in Chicago and beyond.
With a degree in Musical Theatre and History from Northwestern University, she understands that innovative artistry and meticulous planning play equal parts in creating every "brief, shining moment" of a wedding day. Her process begins by listening: asking the right questions and drawing ideas out through conversation. The result? Seamless experiences and bespoke designs, anchored by an obsessive precision that makes it all possible.
Outside of events, she lives in the city with her family where she is a voracious reader and competitive reality television enthusiast. Her favorite part of every wedding is the first dance.
Meet Rachel
Senior Event Planner
Event Planner
MEET Alexa
Having spent years working as the Director of Catering for several event venues in Chicago, hospitality comes naturally to Alexa. She brings years of event industry experience, innate warmth, and the effortless management of vision development, vendor selection, budget creation, and timeline orchestration to The Creative Planners team.
As a result, her clients enjoy a collaborative wedding planning process that culminates in a memorable, stress-free celebration. After all itineraries have been put away for the day, Alexa loves enjoying quality family time with her husband, Harry, and their children, George and Nicole—especially if travel, the beach, or a game of pickleball happen to be involved!
Susan brings a genuine love of celebration to everything she does. Before joining The Creative Planners, Susan spent years working with global brands to craft memorable experiences, where she developed a sharp eye for detail and a commitment to going the extra mile to make sure nothing is overlooked. She joined the team in 2024 as day-of support and found her place in the world of weddings almost immediately. Being present for one of the most meaningful days in a couple's life is something she says she wouldn't trade for anything.
When she's not on site, you'll find Susan on her yoga mat, walking with friends, finding any excuse to get to the beach, or hosting a great backyard gathering featuring her famous smash burgers.
MEET Susan
Senior Event Planner
